Update: Crossing the line

An update of last week’s report about possible abuses by U.S. border agents. There have been at least 8 killings along the U.S./Mexico border in the past two years.

Our report focused on the death of one illegal immigrant whose beating and tasing by border agents was captured on videotape: Anastasio Hernandez Rojas, a 42-year-old Mexican was illegally crossing over the border when he was caught by U.S. border patrol. Eyewitness video caught the sounds of Hernandez Rojas pleading for help while he was, according to witness, being beaten by border agents. And this never-before-seen video of the incident shows him being tasered repeatedly, while surrounded by more than a dozen officers.

It turned out that at the time of the tasing Hernandez Rojas was handcuffed and according to witnesses, not resisting.

Since our broadcast aired, the story has received national attention: This past Monday, human rights advocates and Hernandez Rojas’s family held a press conference in San Diego demanding justice and a federal investigation into the incident. And a national online Latino advocacy group, presente.org, has been circulating a petition addressed to Attorney General Eric Holder demanding that the justice department investigate the incident immediately. The petition has more than 31,000 signatures.

Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva is a member of the Hispanic caucus and represents a district in Arizona that shares a 300-mile border with Mexico. Grijalva tells us that members of congress have, in the past, inquired about the case of Hernandez Rojas, but have heard nothing from the justice department.

PBS NewsHour will live-stream updates, including news briefings, from Boston as they happen.

Comments

ForWhomTheBellTolls

Every day that the Border Patrol agents who brutally attacked and then killed Anastasio Hernandez Rojas continue to escape prosecution is a blot on supposed equal justice in the United States and a crime against humanity.

It is sickening that the Border Patrol apparently condones the multiple crimes its agents committed
against Mr. Rojas and more than deplorable that the U.S. Dept. of Justice has brushed “need to
know” off by saying it can’t comment on an ongoing investigation. Will the DOJ ever finish its
alleged “investigation?” Or will it, along with the Border Patrol, try to cover up this horrendous
crime forever?

Shame on all those who murdered Anastasio Hernandez Rojas, shame on the authorities who are
protecting the killers in uniform, and shame on all Americans who do not protest this barbaric act
and do not do everything they can to bring closure to Mr. Rojas’ family and justice to the perpetrators!

Donegal

I am imploring you, Need to Know, to continue to follow this matter closely. It is so very responsible that you provided an update this week. But I urge you to be like a pit bull with your teeth dug into this matter until a credible investigation is made public. Don’t let go! I’ve written my letters to the powers that be, and will write again. But individuals acting alone don’t have the impact that you have. As you reported, the DOJ claims to be investigating this. Therefore you have the obligation and right to request updates on a regular basis. There can be no turning back from this case. As the witness said, she felt she witnessed a murder. This cannot stand. And if there is a cover up or burial of this investigation by DOJ, then that’s another story for you to explore. Thanks again for your responsible efforts.

Donegal

I am imploring you, Need to Know, to continue to follow this matter closely. It is so very responsible that you provided an update this week. But I urge you to be like a pit bull with your teeth dug into this matter until a credible investigation is made public. Don’t let go! I’ve written my letters to the powers that be, and will write again. But individuals acting alone don’t have the impact that you have. As you reported, the DOJ claims to be investigating this. Therefore you have the obligation and right to request updates on a regular basis. There can be no turning back from this case. As the witness said, she felt she witnessed a murder. This cannot stand. And if there is a cover up or burial of this investigation by DOJ, then that’s another story for you to explore. Thanks again for your responsible efforts.

Don64

The abhorrent behavior of the border patrol agents makes it difficult to be proud to be an American. I hope the exposure provided by Need To Know forces an investigation and that it results in more than the typical whitewash.

deb

We americans have a lot more to be ashamed about than proud of at the moment, and whoever hired these animals who murdered that human being who was begging for his life should also be held accountable.

Knowledgable

Did any of you miss the part in the coroners report about “Acute” Methamphetamine intoxication. From personal experience people on meth have ridiculous strength. Sadly he’ll no longer be able to care for his children. Or his meth addiction. Those agents were doing their job. A taser is rarely fatal. Every officer who carries one is tased themselves during training. But non-lethal force is better than the alternative. The mans addiction led to his heart condition, his heart condition led to his death.

http://www.facebook.com/bobbie.johnson828 Bobbie Johnson

It’s been three weeks and it is doubtful Knowledgable will be back, but never the less, feel the need to respond….Did you miss the part about “handcuffed, not resisting, beaten, tasered repeatedly?” If they were doing their job – their job description needs some major modifications. Incidentally, it is spelled knowledgeable – with an E, but I doubt it.

Mimoment53

I suspect if a black man had been beaten as publicly as Mr. Rojas we wouldn’t need to prompt the black attorney general to start an investigation. The Obama administration has been a disappointment for Latinos beginning with no reparations to Latino farmers in Texas while giving black farmers reparations. If nothing else we can understand this as business as usual when it comes to race politics in the U.S.

Either we respect human life and there is equality under the law, or there isn’t. Of course no one will admit to the steady diet of daily television programming that has eaten away at the respect for non-whites in general, the poor, and the expectation of reasonable hope for the future of our children. No, that would be too expensive. Remember, there is no money. Ha!
And everyone keeps on smiling.

raidr64

oh come on ms.rojas and what about all the american citizens that have been abuse , raped ,robbed ,killed , kidnapped by the so-called federallais and drug cartels. can american sue the mexican government for, that heck no but you want american to sympathize with these illegal immigrant I tell you what if mexico agree for americans to sue the mexician government for reembursement no problem then sue away , but mexico will never agree to that so your fighting a losing battle, but with obama and holder well you never know ,I just hope true red,white,and blue americans can see thru all there so-called transparency and vote for american rights. GOD BLESS AMERICA

Gjonesmarvin

if the whites thought Hispanic were Black,we would never hear of them!!!!!

Gjonesmarvin

send them ALL back!!!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/gjonesmarvin George Jones

send them all back!!!

13Anonymous013

Well then the only course you have is to renounce your citizenship.

zempath

We are all human and should treat each other humanely. The trouble is that most of the BP agents are not human and are not capable of being human. This is a common theme throughout the world. The psychopaths tend to congregate at places where they can do most abuse with least responsibility. They go to places of authority – government, police, border patrol, department of justice etc. No action from the authorities shows clearly who they really are — psychopaths. Stop appealing to them.

Need to Know is a production of Creative News Group (CNG) in association with WNET. Marc Rosenwasser is Executive Producer. Need to Know is made possible by Bernard and Irene Schwartz, Mutual of America, Citi Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.